“You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:1–4, ESV)
Here, Isaiah’s words indicate that even though Israel would experience the devastation of defeat by foreign powers, there would be a remnant that would rejoice. The Lord would not forsake His people. He would deliver them and grant them salvation. They should not be afraid because God is their salvation, their strength and their song. Thus, there would come a time of great celebration.
I have watched many sporting events over the years and have seen exuberant fans cheering on their teams. I have seen rejoicing in the streets when the home team wins the championship. Many cities will have a parade for their citizens to continue in the celebration. However, you have to think are not these celebrations somewhat hollow. For in less than a month those who have been celebrating have all but forgotten the victory and all the celebrations have ceased. Why is this? The reason that all the celebration ceases is that the victories are fleeting. There is no permanence to them.
How much different it is with the Lord’s grace. By God’s grace He made us who were once dead in our trespasses and sin alive in Christ. This is no temporary victory that we need to repeat over and over again like the sports team that wins the championship. Christ has redeemed us from our sin once and for all. So, we need no further sacrifice for sin. Moreover, this victory over sin is not just for a future heavenly citizenship. It is for us each and every day. We are victors in Christ. Paul stated that we are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37).
We whom Christ has redeemed should be the most joyful people on the face of the earth. There are two big reasons for this. First, Christ has given us the victory over the power of sin. It is a present reality and we are to walk in this victory every day.
Second, we have a future when we will experience the fullness of this victory. It is when we will enter into our heavenly home.
Regardless of how many battles you encounter in your daily life remember that you are already victorious over sin. Engage life from a standpoint of confidence. You do not have to cave into the world’s ways of discouragement, fear, uncertainty, compromise, etc. This is because Jesus has already given us the victory, He is with us, and never leaves us nor forsakes us. In this victory we rejoice since we know that our victory is eternal and our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory” in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV).
Renewing the Heart 